James a



J. A. RICHARDS.

WHEELED TOY.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJI. IQIB.

1 09,547 Patented July 8, 1m.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES A.. RICHARDS, OF MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE RICHARDS MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF MARIETTA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WHEELED TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed August 17, 1918. Serial No. 250,385.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheeled Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wheeled toys adapted to be ridden by children and to be propelled by the rider pushing with his feet upon the surface over which the toy moves.

It has for its object to produce a toy of this kind that may be cheaply and easily constructed, is attractive in appearance, and is strong and substantial in construction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a wheeled toy made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the toy. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

The toy illustrated in the drawings is shaped to represent a horse, and is merely representative so far as the design of the toy is concerned. In the drawings, 2 designates the main body part of the toy. It is formed from a single piece .of flat stock lumber, and is shaped to represent the body,

the rear legs and the tail of a horse, being usually painted to heighten the desired effect. The section 3 of the part 2 is shaped to represent the legs, and carries the axle or support 11 by which the rear wheels 12 are supported. 4 represents the seat of the toy, shaped to represent a riding saddle. This is preferably formed of wood, and has the side portions 28, representing the skirt of the saddle, embracing and closely fitting against the sides of the forward part of the body-2, which they serve to brace in proximity to the hinge 9, that unites the main, rear body part with the front head and steering part 6 of the toy. This part 6 is shaped to represent the head and fore part of the body, including the front legs, and has an extension 18 below the hinge for the front wheels 8. It also carries the steering handle 7. The hinge 9 consists of two parts, 19, 19, one carried by each main body art of the toy and united by. a pintle 10. Each hinge part 19 is preferably "formed from sheet metal doubled upon itself and set into a kerf 20 in the body part to which it is secured, there being an external loop 21, or a plurality of these loops, through which the pintle 10 passes. The loops 21 of the hinge parts 19 interlap, as represented in Fig. 1, so that they may be brought into line with each other to receive the pintle. The hinge thus formed is very cheaply made, and is substantial, forming long bearings for the pintle or pivot pin, thus insuring against looseness in this important part of the toy. The hinge is not only substantial, but is inconspicuous, being scarcely noticeable when painted to correspond with the other parts.

The rear support or axle for the wheels 12 is easily separable to facilitate packing and shipping the toy. It is preferably formed of a tang 13 seated in the rear leg section 3 of the body 2. The ends of this tang are preferably screw-threaded, and extend laterally beyond the faces of the leg section 3 for some distance, as represented at 14; and upon the exposed parts 14 are screwed wooden pieces 15, which are preferably in the form of short cylinders of a size to afford a substantial brace against the leg section 3 and surrounding the screw 14. Into the outer ends of the cylinders 15 are screwed bolts 16, on which are mounted the rear wheels 12. Washers 17 are mounted on the screw bolts 16 and constitute wear plates for the wheels.

The toy constructed as illustrated and described is substantial in construction and yet may be easily taken apart for shipment or storage and easily assembled when desired for use. The cylindrical axle parts 15 may be 'unscrewed from the threaded exposed ends of the tang 13 and the wheels removed therefrom if desired by taking out the bolts 16. The front and steering section of the toy may be easily separated from the main body portion by removing the pintle 10. The saddle, as stated, serves to strengthen the body part 2 where it has been split to form the kerf 20 for the hinge member. I prefer that the front steering section of the toy should carry a pair of wheels supported close to and parallel with each other, rather than a single steering wheel, as it gives a little wider supporting brace, making the toy less liable to turn over when used by a child not accustomed to it. As will be understood, the child propels the toy by pushing against the ground with his feet While occupying the seat 4 and steering by means of the handle 7 What I claim is:

1. A riding Wheeled toy, having a main body portion and a. front steering portion, these parts being united by a hinge, the hinge being formed of parts carried respectively by the main body portion and the steering portion, and each hinge part being formed of thin metal folded upon itself, the superposed parts being set into a kerf formed in the body part to which that hinge section is secured and formed also with an exposed loop, the loop portions of the hinge parts being adapted to be brought in line with each other, and a pintle passing through the said loop parts and constituting the pivot' pin of the hinge.

.2. A riding wheeled toy having a body portion formed of a single piece of flat stock lumber, in the forward end of which is formed a kerf, a hinge part set in the said kerf, a front steering part united'to the body part by the said hinge, and a seat having a skirt portion that embraces the forward portion of the body adjacent to the part in which is formed the kerf, andsecured thereto, strengthening the body at this part.

'3. A toy having a central body portion, a pair of supporting wheels and a separable support for the wheels comprising a tang mounted in the body part and having screwthreaded ends, pieces screwed on to the said ends of the tang, and bearing against the opposite faces of the body part, the wheels be ing supported at the outer ends of the said pieces.

JAMES A. morn-inns. 

